Hello, fabulous readers! Thank you for joining me today here at A Beautiful Soul. We've shared many stories in the past, and today will be no different. So, take a seat, and we hope you are enlightened and enjoy.

As always, things said here may be triggering, so please proceed with caution.

Hi everyone, I'll be referring to myself as Nikki during this. I'm not "out" and prefer to stay that way for now. Most people believe I'm a cis-woman and while that's not the case, I'm not in a safe space to be my true self.

Many people have probably not heard of this term before, but I identify as Two-Spirited, as well as a few other things I'll get to later. What is Two-Spirited, you ask? It's generally a term used by Indigenous people such as Native Americans. It dates back to pre-colonial times and some sources say it pre-dates gender as well as Western religion. There are many accounts of what Two-Spirited means, as it varies per tribe, so please do your research. The most common and what I identify with is both a masculine and a feminine spirit. It is a bit of an umbrella term; you can be trans, lesbian, or gay and still be Two-Spirted. You can be with the same sex.

At first, I thought I was Bigender, but after researching my Native roots I came across this term. It was the first time I felt like I got it right on something in my identity journey. I do still have body dysmorphia at times, but it's not as strong as what I've heard from others feel who experience body dysmorphia. This is from my personal experience talking to those who are non-binary, trans, and genderfluid. I don't bind or anything as it is which spirit I'm feeling at the time.

I also identify as Panromantic Demisexual. This means I have to have a strong bond with someone to feel attraction towards them and they can be any gender. This part is pretty easy to understand. For me, it's very straightforward and something I am very comfortable with.

There is another side of myself I am discovering/trying to come to terms with. My main issue with this part of my identity is the current policies/laws in my state that are changing. So, once again, it's more of a safety issue for me. LGBTQ+ individuals are facing many battles with the government in my state and country. I do fear what would happen to me if I came out. I live in a heavily religious area that doesn't necessarily approve of my lifestyle choices. So, in the closet I stay. I dream of one day being able to live my truth and tell my partner how I truly feel. Until then, I'm planning the day I come out on HEX. Maybe on a significant date, I will. For now, I will remain playing the part of a cis-woman to those who know me, for my safety.

If there's anything you don't understand that I've said, please, please do research. Education is the only way we learn things. Thank you for hearing my story. I hope one day to give you an update!

I'd like to thank Nikki for sharing their story/experience with us. I'm sure that was hard as they are worried about their safety. We applaud their courage. Until next time, my dear readers, keep your head high, you beautiful soul!

Art comes in so many different forms, and public art can have such a lasting impact! Around the world, there are murals representing the LGBTQ+ community. I'm going to talk about one located in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon called Never Look Away.

This mural was brought to life by artists Cassandra Swan and Kyra Watkins and mural assistants Rachel Oleson, Tommie Mack-Davis, and Naomi Likayi. The 120-foot-tall mural took five years to pull together, and would not have been possible without the producing team. Zoe Pilafas, the executive producer, has also produced the Fiercest Athletes Mural and the Black United Fund Mural. Her belief that everyone who walks through Portland should be able to see themselves represented in the streets is being fulfilled in her murals. She aims to ensure that everyone sees themselves reflected in the art and media and feels welcome in Portland. As a brown, queer man, Ruban Lawrence, the producer, was given the opportunity to use his project management experience to create something meaningful for his community. Lastly, Cassandra Swan, one of the artists and the associate producer, expanded her art, which already represents creative play, expression, education, and collaboration to now include a mural that demonstrates her belief that diversity is necessary for the future and that when we work together, our differences can only make us stronger.

The team worked hard for five years to bring this mural together, and on August 20th, 2021, their hard work showed when the mural was officially dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The mural features eight LGBTQ+ activists. The activists from left to right on the mural are Marsha P. Johnson, Kathleen Sadaat, Rupert Kinnard, Lynn Nakamoto, David Martinez, Angelica Ross, Asa Wright, and Aydian Dowling. I will briefly give you an idea of their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Please research them for yourself as there is so much more than what I can go through in this article.

Marsha P. Johnson was a gay liberation activist who advocated for gay rights, especially during the Stonewall uprising. Kathleen Sadaat is a musical artist who helped organize Portland Oregon's first gay rights march. Rupert Kinnard is a gay cartoonist who created the first African American LGBTQ+ comic book characters. Lynn Nakamoto was one of the founders of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association and was one of eleven openly LGBTQ+ Oregon state supreme court justices. David Martinez was a founder of Portland's Q Center and Portland's Latino Gay Pride. Angelica Ross was an actress, businesswoman, and transgender rights advocate who founded TransTechSocial Enterprises. Asa Wright was a Two-Spirit Klamath/Modoc Tribal member who founded the Portland Two-Spirit Society. Aydian Dowling is a transgender YouTuber who started a clothing company called Point 5cc, which he has developed to support and grow the LGBTQ+ community.

This colourful masterpiece represents the LGBTQ+ community for everyone who lives in or visits Portland. I will leave you with a powerful quote from the mural's website that I hope inspires you as much as it has inspired me: "This project is telling all queer people - whether they are struggling youth, closeted adults, or even proudly out - that they are worthy. That our stories are worth investing in."